Israel doesn't 'always act in interests of the US', ambassador says

TDT | Manama

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Israel’s UN envoy said Wednesday that the country does not always act solely in the interests of the United States, following Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, which drew criticism from President Donald Trump.

The White House said on Tuesday that Trump disagreed with Israel’s military action on Qatari soil and had warned Qatar in advance. However, Qatar, which hosts a large US military base and frequently hosts Gaza peace talks, said it only received the warning after the attack had already begun.

Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, told an Israeli radio station that the strikes were aimed at Hamas, not Qatar. “We don’t always act in the interests of the United States. We are coordinated, and they give us incredible support, which we appreciate, but sometimes we make decisions and inform the United States,” he said.

Danon added, “It was not an attack on Qatar; it was an attack on Hamas. We are not against Qatar, nor against any Arab country. We are currently against a terrorist organization.”

Hamas reported that six people were killed in the strikes, including a son of its top negotiator, but said its senior leaders survived. Qatar confirmed that one of its security officers also died in the attack.

Danon said Israel was “still waiting for the results” of the operation but maintained that “the decision is the right one.”